Bass oriented benches

toman · #1 09-01-2006, 06:21 PM

Hey luthier types, I've finally decided to abandon my saw horses, solid core door and dining room table and build myself a real live traditional woodworking bench. I'm leaning toward the rather typical configuration with a tail vice, front or shoulder vice, dog holes and a tool well. Any suggestions on dimensions, features, vice types etc. that would make it more useful for when the day comes I throw a bass up there? Or a cello or guitar, for that matter...

At this point I'm looking at making the top out of some thick building quality lumber glued up into basically a big thick butcher block, faced with some 4/4 or 5/4 hard maple, walnut or maybe beech or something else. I'll be building the base in a relatively traditional manner along the lines of several benches outlined in the Landis "Workbench Book", either in some hardwood or maybe softwood if money becomes a big factor.

Any ideas, tips, pics etc. would be much appreciated!

Bob Branstetter · #2 09-01-2006, 06:55 PM

My advice would be to plan on having (atleast) two benches. One like you are talking about, and another covered with carpet for those instruments in the future. Wood bench tops, vices, and metal tools will scratch the varnish and always seem to do that no mater how careful you are.

Mudfuzz · #3 09-01-2006, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toman

Any ideas, tips, pics etc. would be much appreciated!

Make sure you make it is tall enough so that you don't have to bend over too much.

My work workbench is made out of two benches I had: the bottom part is a metal machinist workbench [craftsman I think] and then I have a OLD hard drive table table top mounted on two 2X6s on top of the first bench; this gives me lots of storage space between the tabletops and a big work surface that is at a nice comfortable height [for me, but then I'm 6'4".

bejoyous · #4 09-01-2006, 09:06 PM

Here's some plans from Lee Valley.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...46&cat=1,41637

nicklloyd · #5 09-01-2006, 11:46 PM

Woodcraft, Grainger, and MSC Industrial Supply all sell solid maple bench tops... you just need to build legs. However, I know you don't want to be corrupted by corporate influences.

toman · #6 09-02-2006, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter

My advice would be to plan on having (atleast) two benches. One like you are talking about, and another covered with carpet for those instruments in the future. Wood bench tops, vices, and metal tools will scratch the varnish and always seem to do that no mater how careful you are.

Multiple benches would be nice, but one of my main limitations is that I'm an apartment dweller. While I don't mind having a workbench in my living room, and I don't mind wood shavings evrerywhere, There's not a lot of room to spare when I'm only sporting 900 sq. feet. Therefore, one bench must suit all purposes, at least at this point. Given that I'll only be working on my instruments and those of friends in the near future, extra care can be taken in exchange for bench design and functionality, I would think. My main goal is just a bench that has the capacity to do whatever I need it to, without any particular specialty. That, while fitting in my space and budget, too...

**Matthew Tucker** · #7 09-02-2006, 02:14 AM

Well, unless you can bolt it to the wall, the heavier the bench, the better IMO. If you're living in an apartment why not make the top of the bench a hollow box and fill it with sand. I did it on one of my benches and it really helps if using hand tools. Its an inertia thing.

arnoldschnitzer · #8 09-02-2006, 07:11 AM

I get free carpet cut-offs and save them for bench use. Cut to bench top size, roll up and tie with a string for storage. Cover bench when needed. Horst Grunert has the coolest workbenches which are mounted on motorcycle lifts for height adjustability. And David Weibe invented and uses a "Monsterball" vise, which bolts to the floor and adjusts for both height and tilt, using foot pedals. A real back-saver; mine will be here shortly.

Bob Branstetter · #9 09-02-2006, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnoldschnitzer

And David Weibe invented and uses a "Monsterball" vise, which bolts to the floor and adjusts for both height and tilt, using foot pedals. A real back-saver; mine will be here shortly.

Didn't David adapt a heavy duty commercial unit of some kind? Where did you get yours, and can you give me a ballpark idea on what was the total cost? How about posting some photos when you get yours setup in the shop (please!),

Eric Rene Roy · #10 09-02-2006, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter

Didn't David adapt a heavy duty commercial unit of some kind? Where did you get yours, and can you give me a ballpark idea on what was the total cost? How about posting some photos when you get yours setup in the shop (please!),

http://www.monsterballvise.com/floormodels.htm I want a few for the shop...but gotta space out the spending for now. I told David though when I get mine I want him to personally deliver it!

toman · #11 09-02-2006, 01:44 PM

Yeah, any idea on the cost of the monsterballvise? Definately looks cool and useful...

Bob Branstetter · #12 09-02-2006, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eroy

http://www.monsterballvise.com/floormodels.htm I want a few for the shop...but gotta space out the spending for now. I told David though when I get mine I want him to personally deliver it!

Thanks Eric. It appears to me that the vice has undergone some changes and improvements from the one I saw in a photo several years ago in one of the trade journals. That's nice!

arnoldschnitzer · #13 09-02-2006, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toman

Yeah, any idea on the cost of the monsterballvise? Definately looks cool and useful...

Floor model runs about $2,000.

toman · #14 09-02-2006, 08:13 PM

Ouch.

toman · #15 09-02-2006, 10:50 PM

Any opinions on these legs? Seems like a hip and simple way to put together a bench; all I'd have to do is glue up a slab for the top and work out some vices... Also, some people have reccomended topping my bench with masonite; I kind of like this idea, since it's inherently flat and can be easily patched or replaced if (when) it's damaged. Any downsides to it, other than looks? I'd probably edge it with maple or something, so as not to have raw masonite edges showing. The Landis book reccomends sanding the masonite, then soaking it with a drying oil. Good idea?

**Damon Rondeau** · #16 09-03-2006, 08:30 AM

Those Lee Valley legs are heavy-duty and nice-looking. Quick way to get strength, rigidity and weight along with a relatively light look. Pricey, though, compared to making something yourself.

I made my dream bench a few years back. I love it, really. It's got a replaceable masonite top design: core of two layers of plywood, bordered with thick heavy red oak, two layers of 1/4" masonite up top. I made the vises using some heavy vise screws from Lee Valley and more of that red oak.

It's easy to create and keep a flat surface with this design and you of course don't have to worry much about mucking it up with nicks and doodles. With the massive laminated hardwood tops, one of the main concepts is maintaining the surface with scraping and planing.

The top layer of masonite on my bench is held down by double-sided tape -- there are no metal fasteners holding it down onto the benchtop. I need to use a more heavy-duty tape, though -- sometimes a corner pops up and that bugs me.

toman · #17 09-04-2006, 11:36 PM

Any opinions on tool wells? I like the idea of one, since the bench will be limited on surface area and I hate having tools and stuff laying around anyway. But, again, the tool well takes away some more top area...

Bob Branstetter · #18 09-05-2006, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toman

Any opinions on tool wells? I like the idea of one, since the bench will be limited on surface area and I hate having tools and stuff laying around anyway. But, again, the tool well takes away some more top area...

If I were to do it again, I would buy my heavy bench without the tool well. My tool well, more often than not, serves more as a junk drawer, and wood shavings end up covering everything that is in there. You can always build a shelf under the top if you need the storage space. YMMV

**Damon Rondeau** · #19 09-05-2006, 09:40 AM

That's my opinion on tool wells, too. A place for dust bunnies and shavings to gather. Better to have another bench or countertop nearby for tool storage and junk.

Mudfuzz · #20 09-05-2006, 11:31 AM

I'm with Bob and Damon, I don't like the things, just one more thing to clean shaving out of

, I use a hanging rack or if I need it fast and out of the way I have that lower top which is really just a big self; most woodworking benches that I like the design of have a big self the same size as the top about 6-8" below the top.